Yesterday began with a somber feeling, with the death of Elliott Smith as well as the announcement of layoffs at my day job for the first time in the more than seven years I’ve been there. Fortunately, looking back, the greatness overshadowed the greyness.
I’ve always wanted to have a btv showcase at CMJ and last night was that showcase, shared with our friends at Fanatic. It was a great time with Denison Witmer then Sufjan Stevens and his Michigan Militia Band and Choir playing to a quite filled out room at the beginning of the evening. There was some schedule juggling and Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo and new band Ulysses playing an amazing acoustic set next, featuring songs written that very day and a brilliant cover of “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Saxon Shore brought the Rokk in a beautiful, melodic, and most powerfully intense way. Ummm, you need to see these guys play live, it will knock you down with its power, I exaggerate not. The Trouble with Sweeney ended the evening, noting that the showcase was actually running ahead of schedule and gifting us with a couple extra songs. The band was laid back, funny, and ready to bring the party rock. It was a great nightcap.
There were two other noteable, mentionable things that I experienced. The first being that Robert seemed quite excited about participating in the one-sided LP series, either as Ulysses or himself, so more details when we sort them out. The second being that since Robert was there, his good friend, Jeff Mangum was also there. It was a dream come true to confess that I am in a band called reels of white softly flow, stolen from his slightly misheard lyrics, and that I sent a friend (Willis) a postcard from the Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam with the first verse of “Holland, 1945.” Jeff seemed to be a completely happy person. Denison was trying to convinve him to make another record. Not sure how that went over, but I’m sure he gets that every where he goes.
Props to everyone who was in attendance last night, friends old and new. I won’t name you all here, but you have not been forgotten.
Back to all of the CMJ festivities soon.
:::scott:::